Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1887-02-02

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bit of lead in her bosom at this an
nouncemcnt.
'lic's been o-wanting to 60 to the
city fur some time" said the old lady,
taking out her knitting and settling her
self for pleasant chat. 81 s'posc he'll
call an see Priscilla Pinkham while he's
there. l wish he hadn't took such
notion to that girl" she added, conf
dcntolly, as she looked sharply through
her glasses at Vincy's blushlng cheeks
'But, there, We needn't bother about
that now. Pm real glad you'll stay with
me, Vincy; and I'll have lemon cakes
and raspberry jam fur tea. know what
young folks like" she added, kindly.
81 must say, Priscilla, it's tine you
found something TO dol" said Miss Nc
lissn Pinkham, sharply, to her younger
sister. "You spent all our spare funds
on that trip to the country this fall, and
lost your situation by it, and here we
arc, getting poorer every day. I tried
to make little something renting rooms,
but nobody's come to look at 'cm even,
and something's got to be done!"
ooh, don't worry, Mclissl My trip
TO the country, that you grumblcd about
SO, was speculation. Just wait till
Cecil Fairfax comes! I'll manage to
bring him to the point, see if l don't
And when get him our troubles will be
ovcrW
" lIumph" shifted Melissa. 81 don't
believe in having to bring a man to the
point! And besides, if your Mr.. Fair
fax was to sec you now, ! don't think
you'd find it so easy to do" she added,
with a glance at her sisters soilcd dress,
rough, untidy hair and slip-shod feet.
"Oh, he won't see me this wayw said
Priscilla, lightly. 81 shall friz my hair
and wear my crimson cashmere and my
beaded jersey when he comes"
At this very moment knock sounded
on the door, and opening it hastily,
Priscilla behcld--CeciI Fairfax.
lie could hardly conceal his surprise
at the picture which met his gaze, for
Miss Priscilla had been the pink OF
neatncss during the few weeks he had
known her, and Cecil had all a mans
horror of a slovcnly woman.
Priscilla, on her part, was awkward
and embarrassed, and was glad when the
interview was over.
"Thars the end of your speculativn"
cried Melissa, sharply, when the guest
had departed. "And now that your
pretty air-castlc has tumblcd about your
cars, hope you'll be satisfied to 90 to
work"
"Who would have thought she was
such a slouch?" murmurcd Cecil, as he
started for the depot to take the first
train for home. "Littlc Vincy Farron,
in her calico lrocks and check aprons,
is worth dozen Miss Pnkhams, as mo-
thcr said."
Mrs. Fairfax and Vincy were Just sit
ting down to their lemon cakes, rasp-
berry jam and fragrant Oolong tea, when
the door opened and Cecil appeared.
And so Vincy had the pleasant chat
with him, after al, while Mrs. Fairfax
set away the tea things, and the bright
freight flushed over the coscy room, and
Cecil watched Vincy's fair face, with q
look of lover-ikc admiration in his hand
some eyes.
'lIcrc's something for you, Vincy,"
said Tom Farron, handing his sister a
large embossed envelope, plainly ad-
dressed to "AIiss Elvina Farron."
V!ncy opened it carefully, and out
dropped gold ring, which was attached
by thread to the han lsomcly decorated
valentine incloscd in the envelope.
Within beautifully designed wreath
of orange blossoms was the couplct:
IF thou wilt be my Valentine,
Accept this ring and am thinem
And under the lines was the nam, "Cc-
Gil Fairfax"
Alkaline Bunting, who was at her cous-
ms at the time, bcheld the valentine,
with a mixture of feelings.
1--WE didn't make much by sending
Vincy TO stay with Mrs. Fairfax that
day." she informed her sisters, "lor Ce-
Gil came home the same night, and he's
sent Vmcy valentine asking her to
marry him."
"WcIl, must say! What fools we
wcrc!" cried Patty Ann, much provoked.
But it's too late now; the mischicl's
done. ~ Helen W. Clark.
Frying rs II is Abused.